Attorney General Bondi Appoints Four Women to the Florida Commission on the Status of Women

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Pam Bondi has appointed Charlotte Danciu and Yvonne Fry to the Florida Commission on the Status of Women for terms beginning today and ending Dec. 31, 2015. She has also reappointed Nancy Peek McGowan and Anne Voss. The Florida Commission on the Status of Women was statutorily created in 1991 and consists of 22 appointed members. The Commission's mandate is to study and make recommendations to the Governor, Cabinet and Legislature on issues affecting women. The Commission is administratively housed in the Attorney General’s Office.

Charlotte Danciu, of Boca Raton, is an attorney who practices family law, concentrating in the areas of private adoption, gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy, and all areas of reproductive law. Charlotte has been practicing law for more than 24 years and has handled more than 2,000 adoptions as well as several hundred surrogacy, reproductive law and non-traditional law matters. Charlotte has represented numerous clients from the United States and abroad. Danciu is recognized as an information source and expert in her field.

Danciu is a Florida State University Law School graduate and has a bachelor’s degree in Exceptional Child Education from Florida Atlantic University. Danciu is a member of the Florida, Palm Beach County and South Palm Beach County bar associations, as well as the Florida Association of Women Lawyers. She is a trained emergency medical technician, and in fulfillment of her love of the study of obstetrics and childbirth, she has attended over 40 births. Charlotte and her husband have a very special “blended” family. Charlotte has two daughters and Bill has two sons. Charlotte’s elder daughter, who is adopted, recently graduated from the Exceptional Student Program at Boca Raton Community High.

Yvonne Fry, of Plant City, is a telecommunications and IT consultant. Fry presently serves as chair for the Hillsborough Commission on the Status of Women. Fry holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. Fry was named Florida International University’s Top 25 Women Entrepreneurs in Florida in 2011. Fry was also awarded the Chair’s Award for service to Women and Children of Domestic Violence by the Spring of Tampa Bay in 2010. Fry is a member of the Athena Society, a Tampa Bay area women’s professional organization. She is Chair of the Board of Directors for the Spring of Tampa Bay, and she is Chair of the Rainbow Ball for Child Abuse Council.

Nancy Peek McGowan, of Jacksonville, is a homemaker and community activist. She has a passion for public policy and was appointed to the Commission in 2008. McGowan began a career in politics in the United States Senate as a legislative intern while attending the University of Florida, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 1982. Her community involvement includes serving as: a P.T.A. board member, a 28-year lector in the Catholic Church, a member of the Executive Board of the Justice Coalition. McGowan was recognized with an award from the Justice Coalition, along with Sen. Steve Wise and State Rep. Dick Kravitz, for her role in supporting the Final Closing Arguments legislation in 2006. McGowan also worked on the Mandatory Physical Fitness Act for public schools, which was signed into law in 2007.

She is married to P. Ted McGowan and is the mother of five children.

Anne Voss, of Tampa, was appointed to the Commission in 2011. She graduated from Occidental College in Los Angeles with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and was chosen to attend American University for an honor’s study program. She is the Vice President of Strategic Solutions of Tampa, a political consulting firm, and she is the Senior Vice President of the Women’s Political Network. Prior to her husband’s retirement from the U.S. Army, Voss was Coordinator for the US Army Child Development Services at Picatinny Arsenal, N. J. and an Assistant Station Manager for the American Red Cross in Pirmasens, Germany.

Voss was a Red Cross Volunteer for 16 years, and she was the president of the Armed Forces Industrial College Wives Club. She serves on the Vestry of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Voss’ awards include: Department of Army, Commander’s Award for Civilian Service; Department of Army, Achievement Medal for Civilian Service; Department of Army, Commendation; and Red Cross Certificate of Recognition for 16 years of volunteer service.